Types of Substance Abuse Interventions

There are several different types of interventions that exist since addiction and substance abuse disorders aren’t the same for every user.

The individuals living with addiction, their family members, and the community as a whole are affected by the many varieties of addiction. One of the main goals for each intervention method for substance abuse is to get the affected party to agree to the treatment program selected for them by the family and interventionist.

Interventions are typically categorized into four main types.

A classic intervention involves the entire network of family and friends along with the person dealing with drug or alcohol addiction, mental health issues, sex addiction, or another form of substance use disorder.

This model of intervention includes counseling and education for all participants. During this intervention, each participant is given the opportunity to speak with preparatory help from a professional interventionist.

Everyone will work with the interventionist to remain on the same page with the result being aimed at the user to seek treatment for their drug addiction or other forms of abusive behavior.

Another option for intervention is a simple intervention. With this style, typically one person close to the individual will confront them, rather than a large group of family and friends.

It is recommended that a professional still be involved with a simple intervention simply due to the fact it may be easier for the individual to walk away from the situation since only one other person is there.

This style can help keep the focus on the individual plan for addiction treatment and provide better effectiveness.

Strengthening the family can lead to improved outcomes for both the addict and extended family. This will be true no matter the outcome of the intervention, whether the addict agrees to treatment or not.

This style of intervention will provide support to the family and friends of the individual, helping them recognize the ways they have enabled their loved one throughout their addiction. Certain behaviors are difficult for family members of an individual dealing with addiction to recognize and working with an interventionist can bring those to the surface.

Breaking codependency and enabling behaviors will help bring an end to the addiction or to, at least, the family members contributing to it.

There are times in an addict’s life or someone struggling with mental health may go through a crisis that makes it clear treatment is necessary immediately. If someone becomes a danger to themselves or others, tough love may be necessary to defuse the situation and push the addict toward accepting treatment.

In these moments, an intervention specialist may not be available, but it’s still recommended to try and find one. If one may not be available to participate in the crisis intervention, they may still be able to provide tips and suggestions to help reduce the risk of losing your family member.

When your family is in dire need of help, trust the professionals at Drew Horowitz & Associates. We’re highly skilled and trained in all types of interventions. With a success rate of over 85%, we provide the best possible help for your family.